Wireless Power Tracking via Backscattered Signal Phase Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless power delivery and tracking methods require complex power generating units and energy storage due to high power consumption for frequency synchronization and phase conjugation, limiting efficiency and requiring batteries for operation.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a low-power circuit in the mobile device to adjust RF signal phases based on backscattered signals, eliminating the need for analog-to-digital converters and transceivers, and modulates the load to maximize power delivery and identification, allowing battery-free tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phase conjugation with pilot signal is used for tracking, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tracking information from the backscattered power delivery signals themselves, rather than using separate pilot signals. The recovering unit's impedance variations during power reception inherently modulate the backscattered signal, allowing the generating unit to extract position and movement information directly from these backscattered signals without requiring additional pilot signal transmission or complex coherent reception systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The backscattered signals serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide feedback for power delivery optimization and contain tracking information for position monitoring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pilot signals and coherent receivers, reducing system complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If pilot signal transmission is used for tracking, then tracking capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power delivery function and tracking function into a single signal transmission process. The backscattered signals that naturally occur during wireless power transfer are utilized for tracking purposes, combining two functions into one and eliminating the need for separate pilot signal transmission that would consume additional power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the power delivery process itself to generate the tracking signals. The recovering unit's natural impedance variations during power reception automatically modulate the backscattered signals, making the power delivery process self-sufficient for both power transfer and tracking without requiring external power for separate tracking operations.
3Measurement precision
If coherent receivers are used in generating unit, then phase conjugation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses impedance modulation as a simpler alternative to coherent reception. By varying the impedance of the load at the recovering unit, the system creates detectable variations in the backscattered signals that can be measured without requiring complex coherent receivers or phase conjugation algorithms, achieving tracking functionality through a simpler copying mechanism.
4Manufacturing precision
If frequency synchronization is performed, then power delivery accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous power delivery and continuous tracking functionality using the same signal transmission and backscattering process. There is no interruption or separate operation mode for tracking, allowing continuous useful action in both power delivery and tracking without additional power consumption cycles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances power delivery efficiency by maximizing backscattered signals and reduces power consumption, eliminating the need for complex circuitry and energy storage, enabling robust and efficient wireless power tracking.
Implementation Method 1
receiving at the generating unit a backscattered RF signal from the wireless device
Implementation Method 2
modulating the backscattered RF signal at the wireless... varying an impedance of a load at the wireless device to modulate the backscattered RF signal
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power generating unit, includes, in part, a multitude of transmitting elements transmitting a multitude of RF signals to a wireless device, a backscatter RF receiver configured to receive the backscattered RF signal from the wireless device in response to the transmission of the RF signals, and a processor adapted to change the phases of the multitude of RF signals values in accordance with the strength of the received backscattered signal. The phases are changed to maximize the strength of the backscattered signal which may be modulated by varying a resistive load at the wireless device. The modulated backscattered signal may be encoded to carry information. The modulation frequency may be representative of the identity of the wireless device. The information may define the amount of RF power received by the wireless device.